OCHA Warns of Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Gaza
In its weekly report, United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Palestinian occupied territories (OCHA) warned of worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the closure of the Strip's border crossings.
The report pointed to the confrontations between Palestinians and Israeli forces across the West Bank in during the week, including the villages of Abu Dis (Jerusalem) and Beit Ummar (al-Khalil), and Al Jalazun refugee camp and Ofer checkpoint (both in Ramallah).
OCHA confirmed, in its weekly report, that the Israeli forces have demolished dozens of residential and livelihood structures, displacing an entire community in the Jordan Valley.
During the reporting period, OCHA documented an increase in settlers' attacks, where it recorded at least ten settler-related incidents resulting in injury to Palestinians or damage to their property.
The report also pointed to the demolition of tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border by Egyptian forces, which resulted in significant shortages of goods, including fuel and construction materials, over the past two months.
“Due to the decline in tunnel activity, less than 300,000 liters of fuel per day entered Gaza via the tunnels for all needs, including for the Gaza Power Plant (GPP), compared to approximately one million per day prior to June 2013. With no fuel reserves available, the GPP has continued operating at half of its full capacity, triggering long electricity blackouts of up to 12 hours per day; in some areas, power cuts are reaching up to 16 hours per day”, the report said.
Fuel shortfalls have also continued to disrupt the provision of basic services, including water supply, sanitation, health and transportation services, the human rights institution added.
OCHA report referred to the closure of Rafah crossing which has been completely closed for 24 days since early July. Since then, when open, the crossing has operated four hours per day (six days per week) compared to nine hours (seven days per week) prior to early July.
“Only 200 persons were allowed to cross into Egypt and approximately 150 others allowed entering Gaza compared to 1,860 who crossed per day in June. Currently, there are over 5,000 people registered and waiting to travel to Egypt and other destinations via Egypt, including medical cases and students, as reported by the Border and Crossing Authority in Gaza.”
Source: Palestine info
OCHA confirmed, in its weekly report, that the Israeli forces have demolished dozens of residential and livelihood structures, displacing an entire community in the Jordan Valley.
During the reporting period, OCHA documented an increase in settlers' attacks, where it recorded at least ten settler-related incidents resulting in injury to Palestinians or damage to their property.
The report also pointed to the demolition of tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border by Egyptian forces, which resulted in significant shortages of goods, including fuel and construction materials, over the past two months.
“Due to the decline in tunnel activity, less than 300,000 liters of fuel per day entered Gaza via the tunnels for all needs, including for the Gaza Power Plant (GPP), compared to approximately one million per day prior to June 2013. With no fuel reserves available, the GPP has continued operating at half of its full capacity, triggering long electricity blackouts of up to 12 hours per day; in some areas, power cuts are reaching up to 16 hours per day”, the report said.
Fuel shortfalls have also continued to disrupt the provision of basic services, including water supply, sanitation, health and transportation services, the human rights institution added.
OCHA report referred to the closure of Rafah crossing which has been completely closed for 24 days since early July. Since then, when open, the crossing has operated four hours per day (six days per week) compared to nine hours (seven days per week) prior to early July.
“Only 200 persons were allowed to cross into Egypt and approximately 150 others allowed entering Gaza compared to 1,860 who crossed per day in June. Currently, there are over 5,000 people registered and waiting to travel to Egypt and other destinations via Egypt, including medical cases and students, as reported by the Border and Crossing Authority in Gaza.”
Source: Palestine info
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